Barotrauma is a common diving injury that occurs when there’s a sudden change in air pressure. It can affect your ears, sinuses, or lungs, and it’s usually caused by a dive going wrong.
What is barotrauma? It’s an injury caused by a sudden change in air pressure, usually experienced by divers. It can affect your ears, sinuses, or lungs, and it’s usually caused by a dive going wrong.
Let’s look at everything that encompasses.
In this post we'll cover:
- 1 What Is Barotrauma (Airplane Ear)?
- 2 What is Ear Barotrauma?
- 3 What is Ear Barotrauma?
- 4 The Dive Into Dive Injuries
- 5 What is Barotrauma?
- 6 What is Ear Barotrauma?
- 7 How Long Does an Ear Pressure Change Last?
- 8 How to Avoid Ear Barotrauma
- 9 What Is Ear Barotrauma?
- 10 What to Do When Experiencing Barotrauma
- 11 Differences
- 12 Conclusion
What Is Barotrauma (Airplane Ear)?
What Is It?
Barotrauma, or otic barotrauma, is the fancy way of saying “airplane ear”. It’s that uncomfortable feeling you get when your ears feel like they’re stuffed with cotton after a flight.
What Causes It?
It’s all about the eustachian tube! When this tube gets blocked or inflamed, it traps air in the space between your eardrum and your middle ear. That’s when the cotton-stuffed feeling kicks in.
How Can I Avoid It?
Here are a few tips to help you avoid the dreaded airplane ear:
- Chew gum or suck on a hard candy during take-off and landing. This helps open up the eustachian tube and equalize the pressure.
- Take a decongestant before your flight. This will help reduce inflammation in the eustachian tube.
- Try the Valsalva maneuver. This involves taking a deep breath and gently blowing out while pinching your nose and keeping your mouth closed. This helps open up the eustachian tube and equalize the pressure.
What is Ear Barotrauma?
Have you ever been on a plane and felt like your ears were stuffed with cotton? You may have had a case of ear barotrauma, otherwise known as “airplane ear”. This is an ear injury that happens when there’s a sudden change in air pressure. Ear barotrauma, also called otic barotrauma, is the most common type of barotrauma.
What Causes Ear Barotrauma?
Ear barotrauma is caused by a sudden change in air pressure. This can happen when you’re flying in an airplane, scuba diving, or even driving up a mountain. The sudden change in pressure can cause the Eustachian tubes in your ears to become blocked, leading to pain and discomfort.
How to Unblock Your Eustachian Tubes
Luckily, there are several ways to unblock your Eustachian tubes and get rid of the pain:
- Yawning: Yawning helps to open up the Eustachian tubes and equalize the pressure in your ears.
- Chewing Gum: Chewing gum can help to open up the Eustachian tubes and relieve the pressure.
- Blowing Your Nose: Blowing your nose can help to clear the blockage in your Eustachian tubes and relieve the pressure.
So the next time you’re on a plane and your ears start to feel stuffy, don’t worry! Just try one of these methods and you’ll be feeling better in no time.
What is Ear Barotrauma?
What Causes It?
Have you ever been flying in an airplane and felt a sudden, intense pressure in your ears? That’s ear barotrauma, and it’s caused by a blockage or inflammation in your eustachian tube. That’s the tube that runs from the back of your middle ear to the back of your throat, and it helps keep the air pressure balanced on both sides of your ear drum.
When air can’t reach your middle ear, the pressure builds up and can cause some serious ear pain. In rare cases, it can even damage your eardrum, causing bruising or even a rupture. Yikes!
How Can I Unblock My Eustachian Tube?
Good news: there are a few ways to unblock your eustachian tube and get the air flowing again. Here are some of the most popular methods:
- Yawning
- Chewing gum
- Blowing your nose
What Are the Symptoms?
If you’re experiencing ear barotrauma, you might notice some of these symptoms:
- A clogged-up feeling in your ear
- Severe ear pain
- Fluid oozing from your ear (in rare cases)
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s best to see a doctor right away.
The Dive Into Dive Injuries
The Numbers
It’s estimated that around 1000 dive injuries occur in the US and Canada each year. Of those, nearly half involve middle ear barotrauma. Injuries tend to be more common in older divers, those who drink, those who are overweight, and those with asthma, chronic sinusitis, or otitis.
The Finnish Findings
A survey of Finnish divers (both military and recreational) revealed some interesting stats:
- 49% had suffered sinus barotrauma
- 81% had suffered middle ear barotrauma
- Factors associated with sinus barotrauma included frequent upper respiratory infections, smoking, and pollen allergies
- 38% of those with middle ear barotrauma had used medications to treat it
- 1% had undergone surgical intervention
The Takeaway
It’s important to take safety precautions when diving, especially if you’re older, drink, are overweight, or have asthma, chronic sinusitis, or otitis. If you’re a frequent diver, it’s also important to be aware of the risks of sinus and middle ear barotrauma. If you do experience any of these issues, be sure to seek medical treatment.
What is Barotrauma?
What Causes Barotrauma?
Barotrauma is a condition caused by a change in pressure, usually when you’re diving, flying, mountain climbing, or skiing. It’s like a balloon that expands when the pressure decreases – the same thing happens to the air in your lungs when you’re underwater.
At sea level, the atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi, which is the same as 760mmHg or 1 atmosphere (1 Atm or 1 Barr). When you dive, the pressure increases by 1 Atm for every 33 feet of water.
So what can happen when the pressure changes? Here are some of the most common issues:
- Mask Squeeze: This can cause skin ecchymosis, conjunctival hemorrhage, and even orbital hemorrhage.
- Dental Squeeze: This can cause carious teeth to implode.
- Ear Squeeze: This can occur in the ear canal or middle ear.
- Sinus Squeeze: This can be excruciating, especially if you have chronic sinusitis.
Who’s at Risk?
Anyone can experience barotrauma, but some people are more at risk than others. If you have any of the following conditions, you should be extra careful when diving, flying, mountain climbing, or skiing:
- Asthma
- Sinusitis
- Dental abscesses or caries
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Seizures
- Ear problems
- Syncope
- Panic disorders
- Vertigo
- Poor training
- Inexperience
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
And if you’re on a ventilator, you’re at an even higher risk of barotrauma. So if you’re planning on doing any of these activities, make sure you know what you’re doing and take all the necessary precautions.
What is Ear Barotrauma?
What Causes Ear Barotrauma?
Ear barotrauma is caused by a difference in pressure between the external ear canal and the middle ear. It can be caused by a variety of things, such as:
- Scuba diving or flying
- Swimming or bathing
- Changes in altitude
- Blocked ear canals
How to Diagnose Ear Barotrauma
If you think you have a mild case of ear barotrauma, you can diagnose it yourself. But if you’re not sure or if your symptoms last a long time, it’s best to see a doctor. They’ll use a lighted magnifying tool called an otoscope to take a look at your middle ear and see if your eardrum is pulled inward.
If it’s hard to spot any fluid behind the eardrum, your doctor may give your ear canal a little squeeze to see if the eardrum moves. If it doesn’t, then you probably have fluid behind the eardrum. And if your eardrum is perforated, your doctor can spot it with the otoscope.
The diagnostic workup for ear barotrauma usually involves a history of exposure to a source of pressure, like scuba diving or flying. Your doctor may also check your CPK level to see if you have tissue damage, do a CBC and ABG determination, and take a chest radiograph to check for pneumothorax.
CT scans and MRI may be necessary if you have severe headaches or back pain. And echocardiography can detect the number and size of gas bubbles in the right side of the heart.
Treating Ear Barotrauma
Treatment for ear barotrauma depends on the severity of the injury. Mild cases can usually be treated with painkillers and steroid eardrops. But if your eardrum is perforated, you may need surgery.
If you’re a diver, the best way to prevent ear barotrauma is to make sure you equalize your ears properly during descent and ascent. And if you’re flying, try to chew gum or yawn to help open your eustachian tubes.
How Long Does an Ear Pressure Change Last?
Duration of Symptoms
When the pressure in your ear changes, it can be a real pain – literally! Symptoms can last for a short while, but if you’ve got a serious case of ear-ache, it can be weeks or even months before you’re feeling back to normal.
Healing Perforations
If you’ve got a perforation in your eardrum, it’s likely to heal on its own – but it could take a few weeks. Until it’s fully healed, you might not be able to hear as well as you’d like. If it’s been two months and your perforation hasn’t healed, it might be time to get it checked out – otherwise, you could be at risk of permanent hearing loss.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to ear pressure changes, it’s hard to predict how long you’ll be feeling the effects. In most cases, it’s only a short while, but if you’ve got a more serious case, it could be weeks or months. And if you’ve got a perforation, it could take a few weeks to heal – and if it doesn’t, it might be time to get it checked out.
How to Avoid Ear Barotrauma
In the Airplane
If you’re planning on taking a flight, it’s a good idea to take a decongestant before you take off. This can help protect your ears from any pressure changes. If your ears are still affected, try these tricks:
- Chew a piece of gum
- Yawn
- Blow your nose
When Diving
When you’re diving, you need to make sure your Eustachian tubes stay open. If you have a cold, ear infection, or allergy, it’s best to reschedule your dive until you’re feeling better. If you can’t wait, take a decongestant about an hour before your dive and keep taking it during the dive according to the package directions. You can also use a decongestant nasal spray or antihistamines.
If you’re flying, make sure you’re awake for the landing so you can “pop” your ears if needed. For infants, keep them awake during the descent and give them a bottle or pacifier to suck on to help keep their Eustachian tubes open.
Ear plugs have been developed to slow down the pressure change that affects the ear. These might give your ears some extra time to adjust to pressure changes, but they’re not useful for diving.
Equalising the Pressure
To avoid barotrauma, you need to equalise the pressure. Here’s how:
- Ears and sinuses: Swallowing can open the Eustachian tubes and equalise the ears.
- Lungs: Don’t hold your breath during ascent.
- Diving mask squeeze: Breathe air into the mask through the nose.
- Dry suit squeeze: Use a manually operated valve fed from a low pressure gas supply.
What Is Ear Barotrauma?
Have you ever been on a plane and felt like your ears were stuffed with cotton? Well, you may have experienced ear barotrauma, also known as otic barotrauma. Don’t worry, it’s a common problem and there are ways to prevent it.
What Causes Ear Barotrauma?
Ear barotrauma is caused by a sudden change in air pressure. This can happen when you’re flying in an airplane, scuba diving, or even driving in a car over a mountain.
How Can I Prevent Ear Barotrauma?
Preventing ear barotrauma is easy! Here are some tips:
- Take a decongestant before your flight takes off.
- If you’re scuba diving, make sure to equalize your ears regularly.
- If you’re driving over a mountain, keep your windows closed and your air conditioning on.
What Should I Do If I Have Ear Barotrauma?
Most of the time, the symptoms of ear barotrauma will go away on their own. But if your ear problems persist, you should talk to your healthcare provider. Here are some questions you can ask them:
- Can I lose my hearing from barotrauma?
- How long will it take for me to recover?
- Can I develop airplane ear again?
- What should I do to prevent barotrauma?
What to Do When Experiencing Barotrauma
Quick Fixes
When you’re in the air and feeling the symptoms of barotrauma, there are a few things you can do to try and relieve the pressure:
- Chew some gum or suck on a hard candy
- Yawn and swallow frequently
- Pinch your nose closed, inhale through your mouth, and then try to push the air out through your nose while keeping it pinched shut
Medical Treatment
If the quick fixes don’t work, you may need to seek medical treatment. Here are some of the treatments you may need:
- Decongestants for persistent barotrauma of the ear
- An ear, nose and throat doctor may make a small incision in the eardrum to equalize the pressure and drain the fluid
- If you have a ruptured eardrum, you need to keep water out of your ear to prevent infection
- If the perforation hasn’t healed after two months, it may need to be repaired surgically
- For diving barotrauma, treatment depends on the symptoms and the affected tissues
- Pre-hospital care for lung barotrauma includes basic life support, assessment of airway, breathing and circulation, and managing any immediate life-threatening conditions
- Endotracheal intubation, needle decompression or tube thoracostomy, Foley catheterization, and intravenous hydration may be necessary
- Therapeutic recompression is indicated for severe arterial gas embolism
- Sinus squeeze and middle ear squeeze are generally treated with decongestants and anti-inflammatory medications
- Suit, helmet and mask squeeze are treated as trauma according to symptoms and severity
- Primary medications for lung barotrauma include hyperbaric and normobaric oxygen, hyperbaric heliox or nitrox, isotonic fluids, anti-inflammatory medications, decongestants, and analgesics
- After ear injury, recovery can take weeks to months
- After barotrauma of the ears or lungs from diving, the diver should not dive again until cleared by a diving doctor
Differences
Barotrauma Vs Volutrauma
The barotrauma vs volutrauma debate has been raging for some time, but it looks like the volutrauma camp has finally won out. A textbook on mechanical ventilation recently declared that it’s not barotrauma causing lung injury and pulmonary edema, but volutrauma. While it’s nice to be vindicated, it’s important to remember that a fresh perspective can often bring new insights. So, let’s not get too caught up in the ‘who’s right’ debate and instead focus on understanding the phenomenon of ventilation-induced injury better.
It’s worth noting that barotrauma and volutrauma are two sides of the same coin. Barotrauma is caused by too much pressure, while volutrauma is caused by too much air volume. Both can cause damage to the airways and alveoli, so it’s important to be aware of the risks and take steps to minimize them. With the right precautions, we can ensure that mechanical ventilation is safe and effective.
Barotrauma Vs Decompression Sickness
Barotrauma and decompression sickness are two very different conditions, both of which can be caused by changes in pressure. Ear barotrauma is usually caused by difficulty equalizing the pressure in the middle ear during a descent, such as when diving or during an airplane descent. On the other hand, decompression sickness is caused by the formation of inert gas bubbles in the microvessels and inner ear fluids during ascent.
The symptoms of barotrauma and decompression sickness can be quite similar, but the treatments are very different. Barotrauma can cause pain, dizziness, and hearing loss, and can be treated with medications and ear drops. Decompression sickness, however, requires immediate medical attention and can be treated with recompression therapy or hyperbaric oxygen therapy. It’s important to note that both of these conditions can be serious and should be taken seriously. If you experience any of the symptoms associated with either of these conditions, it’s best to seek medical help right away.
Conclusion
Barotrauma is a condition that occurs when there’s a sudden change in air pressure. It can be very painful and can even be life-threatening. So if you’re planning on taking a trip by plane, boat, or diving, it’s important to know the symptoms and how to prevent it.
So, remember to KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, use your chewing gum, and don’t be a dummy by blowing your nose when you’re on a plane!
